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Culture Guide Austria

Visiting ”Vienna’s living room” The MuseumsQuartier Wien displays the city’s unique sense of art and culture in its magnificent spaces, housing numerous internationally renowned museums and exhibitions. TEXT: DORINA REICHHOLD | PHOTOS: HERTHA HURNAUS

Austria’s capital is a treat for art lovers, aesthetes and anyone interested in a rich cultural history.Visitors can experience all these things combined in the MuseumsQuartier Wien, a large indoor and outdoor area dedicated to art and culture. Situated in the city’s 7th district, this large 90,000 m² area is home to about 60 different facilities, from large museums to small exhibition spaces. The mix of buildings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries along with contempo-

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rary architecture doesn’t just house museums and exhibitions, but also plays host to various art and cultural events and shows. The cultural fields covered are immensely diverse, covering architecture, fashion, photography, dance, theatre, literature, street art, design, game culture, music and children’s culture, to name but a few.The artists whose works are shown are just as diverse. They include internationally renowned artists as well as younger artists, who have

only recently started making a name for themselves. ”The MuseumsQuartier Wien is one of the greatest art and cultural areas in the world,” explains Barbara Pölz, manager of events and tourism marketing.“At the same time it is an urban living space with generous resting areas, courtyards, diverse cafés and shops. It is a meeting point for Viennese and tourists from all over the world.” The MuseumsQuartier Wien, or MQ, has a long history. Originally built as the Imperial stables for the Austrian Emperor at the beginning of the 18th century, the area was rebuilt several times and used for various